The Pennsylvania Recreational Vehicle and Campground Association (PRVCA) will hold a drawing May 5 for manufacturers, suppliers and seminar sponsors planning to attend the 41st Annual RV and Camping Show Sept. 14-20 in Hershey, Pa.

“We are probably going to be down a little as far as manufacturers are concerned, but so far, we’ve only had one company say that they weren’t going to be here,” said Heather Leach, PRVCA director of education and marketing.

“The main thing is that we are trying to remain optimistic and we are hearing from our dealers lately that things are picking up. We are taking that as a good sign.”

Last year about 60 dealers displayed product from 74 manufacturers, while retail attendance was 27,838 – down 11.6% from 2007.
Sept. 14-15 have been set aside as trade-only days,

In deference to the soft RV market, just as it did last year, PRVCA will allow manufacturers to display 20% of units from the 2009 model year. However, with that option available last year, fewer than 5% of RVs on display were 2008 units.

“It’s hard to say how many people will take advantage of that option this year, but they seem to like to have it,” Leach said.
Entertainer Bowzer from the ’70s acapella group Sha Na Na will perform Sept. 14 for trade members with Bowzer’s Rock & Roll Party.

Sales trainer Randy Sobel will be featured speaker during an opening breakfast Sept. 14 for trade members and retired Notre Dame and Pittsburgh Steeler running back Jerome Bettis will speak on “Choices that Make Champions” during breakfast Sept. 15.

Other trade seminar subjects will include distance learning for technicians by Gary Bunzer and park trailers in campgrounds by Bill Garpow, executive director of the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA).